Retired federal judge Buchmeyer dies at 76

[sonias]

AAS 9/22/09
Retired federal judge Buchmeyer dies at 76

DALLAS — Retired U.S. District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer, who spent nearly 30 years on the federal bench and presided over a Dallas housing discrimination case, has died. He was 76.

(snip)
Jerry Buchmeyer was perhaps best-known for his handling of a 1985 lawsuit against the Dallas Housing Authority that many say helped desegregate public housing. The case, brought by seven black women over living conditions at a West Dallas housing project, led to thousands of low-income black families moving into predominantly white neighborhoods with the help of government rent vouchers.

In another ruling, Buchmeyer struck down the Dallas County City Council election system, saying it diluted minority power. Roy Williams, a co-plaintiff in that case, told The Dallas Morning News that the judge was a courageous, fair man.

"Judge Buchmeyer was a giant of this court whose decisions reflected his independence, courage and intellect," U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater, chief judge for the Northern District of Texas, said in a statement.

Jon Paul Buchmeyer told The Associated Press his father "was a larger-than-life figure who was, to many, a hero for his leadership in civil rights causes."

Jerry Buchmeyer in 1982 was the first judge to rule that a Texas law barring sodomy was unconstitutional. His decision was reversed by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, but the law was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

I didn't know him but in reviewing his case rulings, he seemed like a great and wise man. My condolences to his family. May Judge Jerry Buchmeyer rest in peace.

Sonia

[WolverineDG]

1. He also had a column in the Texas Bar Journal

all the bon mots from court hearings, depos, letters, etc. The most read part of the bar journal, btw, & it is greatly missed. He only retired last year, too. :(

dg

[Manifestor_of_Light]

4. Opening Arguments, Coyote v. Acme.

Which was originally published in The New Yorker, written by Ian Frazier.

[WolverineDG]

5. oh god, i read the pleadings in that case

from the NM bar journal. I was in stitches, tears coming out of my eyes. too damn funny!

dg

[sonias]

6. Hey no fair - we're not all lawyers here

Linky?

Here's one:

jamesfuqua.com/lawyers/jokes/coyote-acme.shtml

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHWESTERN DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
Tempe, Arizona

Judge Joan Kujava, Presiding

________________________________
WILE E. COYOTE, §
Plaintiff §
v. § CIVIL ACTION NO. B19294
§
ACME COMPANY, §
Defendant §
________________________________

OPENING STATEMENT OF HAROLD SCHOFF,

COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF

By Mr. Schoff:

My client, Mr. Wile E. Coyote, a resident of Arizona and contiguous states, does hearby bring suit for damages against the Acme Company, manufacturer and retail distributor of assorted merchandise, incorporated in Delaware and doing business in every state, district, and territory. Mr. Coyote seeks compensation for personal injuries, loss of business income, and mental suffering caused as a direct result of the actions and/or gross negligence of said company, under Title 15 of the United States Code Chapter 47, section 2072, subsection (a), relating to product liability.

Mr. Coyote states that on eighty-five separate occasions, he has purchased of the Acme Company (hereinafter, 'Defendant'), through that company's mail order department, certain products which did cause him bodily injury due to defects in manufacture or improper cautionary labeling. Sales slips made out to Mr. Coyote as proof of purchase are at present in the possession of the Court, marked Exhibit A. Such injuries sustained by Mr. Coyote have temporarily restricted his ability to make a living in the profession of predator. Mr. Coyote is self-employed and thus not eligible for Workmen's Compensation.

Mr. Coyote states that on December 13th, he received of Defendant via parcel post one Acme Rocket Sled. The intention of Mr. Coyote was to use the Rocket sled to aid him in pursuit of his prey. Upon receipt of the Rocket Sled, Mr. Coyote removed it from its wooden shipping crate and sighting his prey in the distance, activated the ignition. As Mr. Coyote gripped the handlebars, the Rocket Sled accelerated with such sudden and precipitate force as to stretch Mr. Coyote's forelimbs to a length of fifteen feet. Subsequently, the rest of Mr. Coyote's body shot forward with a violent jolt, causing severe strain to his back and neck and placing him unexpectedly astride the Rocket Sled. Disappearing over the horizon at such speed as to leave a diminishing jet trail along its path, the Rocket Sled soon brought Mr. Coyote abreast of his prey. At that moment, the animal he was pursuing veered sharply to the right. Mr. Coyote vigorously attempted to follow this maneuver but was unable to, due to poor design and engineering on the Rocket Sled and a faulty or non-existent steering system. Shortly thereafter, the unchecked progress of the Rocket Sled led it and Mr. Coyote into collision with the side of a mesa.

The rest of the argument at link above.

:rofl:


Sonia

[jeffweemsforRRC]

2. Sad day in the legal world

[Aragorn]

3. sad

thank you for posting this.

[ScutFarkus]

7. Nice guy

He had a great sense of humor and was a very nice man. Some of his decisions ruined some nice neighborhoods by opening them up to riff-raff, but he was a good judge nonetheless, who was loved by his family.

[sonias]

8. "ruined some nice neighborhoods by opening them up to riff-raff"

Really? :shrug:

I hope you're not saying what I think you're saying. (That desegregation was a bad thing)

I see that you are new here, so you get a welcome to DU. :hi:

Sonia

[ScutFarkus]

9. No

No, upon reviewing my post, I realize I may have created the wrong impression. Judge Buchmeyer was an admirable judge who stood up for desegregation, as I do. I only meant to observe that, in the aftermath of some of his decisions, some of the problems that had historically been limited to the inner city were observed in many outlying neighborhoods. Not an opinion, just an objective observation.